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16 that the flames might conceal his fault; and told him, he would not for that time, diſcover his being converſant with a book ſo ſtrictly by the church, prohibited to the Laity; for (continued ſhe) it is enough that we believe as the church believes, without farther diſpute, or puzzling ourſelves with thoſe ſcruples and niceties which in all probability, we may make a falſe conſtruction of, and wreſt even thoſe ſcriptures, that are the rule of our faith, to our own damnation.

This ſmart diſcourſe, and the frowns in the fair Deidamia's countenance, did not in this caſe ſo much daunt Bernard as in another of leſs concern it might have done; but with ſome aſſurance, he replied, 'Ah, Madam! I little thought of being ſurpriſed by you at my devotion, but ſince I am, I cannot grant what you demand; rather you may command my body to the flames, and as a willing martyr I will ſooner go than betray the cauſe of God, in delivering up his holy word to be conſumed, in which are contained all things neceſſary to falvation: and it would be in me an apparent contempt of that ſalvation, should I voluntarily, or thro' fear, caſt it from me. As to your ſaying, madam, that the church has prohibited the Laity the uſe of this ſacred book, eſpecially in a known tongue, I readily grant it; but, O moſt virtuous lady, you little know their policy in that; it is not that they fear or care what miſconſtructions men make of it; but becauſe it is like arrows in the hand of a giant, ſtrong againſt their worldly intereft, plainly diſcovering their errors and groſs idolatries.'-He would have proceeded, but the heat of zeal prompted her haſtily to interrupt him, ſaying, ſurely Bernard, you are diſtracted, or elſe, what is worſe, a heritic: I took you to be wiſer, and more